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Council places 2.33-mill fire and EMS levy on November ballot
Summary
The Portsmouth City Council unanimously adopted resolutions this week to place a three-year, 2.33-mill levy for fire and ambulance/EMS services on the November 3 ballot and asked the auditor to certify expected revenue; a special meeting was set for a second reading on July 29 to meet election deadlines.
Council President opened the meeting July 28 and the council moved quickly to advance measures tied to public-safety funding. The council adopted Resolution 26-7, asking the county auditor to certify the city’s tax valuation and the dollar amount that would be generated by a proposed three‑year, 2.33‑mill levy. The council also scheduled a special meeting for July 29 for the second reading of the ballot measure.
Auditor Bilal explained the two-step procedural timeline for placing a levy on the ballot: the auditor must certify estimated levy proceeds, and the certification is then used with an ordinance to submit the question to the board of elections. “There’s two necessary steps in the process,” Bilal said. He and council members said the schedule is time sensitive to meet the November filing deadlines.
A member of the Safety, Service and Public Works committee urged support, saying the fire department is “in very bad shape” and that lives and property depend on reliable EMS and fire service. Council members discussed that the levy is intended to support ambulance service, emergency medical service, or both, and that wording in the ordinance will appear as required by statute.
The council adopted the related resolutions and waived required readings so the measures could be certified and filed in time. Council statements and the auditor’s presentation made clear the levy proceeds would become available in calendar year 2027 if approved by voters on November 3.
